Here is a photo of my winter face:
Note the rosy cheeks, the frozen nose hairs, the many layers of clothing, and the somewhat tense aura. Kotzebue is in the background. We are out on the sound. (That would be Kotzebue Sound, which opens into the Chukchi Sea, which is located between the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean.) My friend, Kim, and I went snowshoeing. Snowshoeing has been on my list of things to do since I was a tyke. I received a pair of plastic snowshoes as a child and was completely unable to succeed with them, so please understand that this was a big deal. The temperature was about -20 with a little wind taking the chill factor down to around - 30. We were the only people we saw that did not have combustion engine transportation except for a kid chasing a runaway dog. Here is another photo of that milestone day:
Below is a photo of the road across the sound. Snow-gos and skiers like this road. I'm facing east in this one, with a national park behind me. The little trees are how the road is marked. They magically appeared during winter break while I was in cloudy Oregon.
Now I present you with my spring face:
Note the cute hat, (did you know that hoods are much warmer than hats?), tan face (okay - maybe that's a stretch), frost free nose hairs and apparel, relaxed demeanor. This was taken around 5:30 in the evening, so those of you who still think I live in the dark? Think again. The sun sets after 10:00 p.m.
Other signs of spring - and this is the one that had me convinced - April first I saw a pair of not-ravens on my way to school. I was tentative in my jubilation of the little brown bird sighting, it being April Fool's Day and all, but I saw four of them later in the day. Four days later the flock had grown to eight birds! Tra la! I haven't seen a not-raven in at least 5 months! Yesterday, I ventured onto the tundra and spotted my first ever McKay's Bunting. The migrators are returning! Sorry about all the exclamation points, but despite thoroughly enjoying the winter here, I am also splendidly enchanted by the idea of spring!
I don't want to mislead you, however, into thinking everything is coming up daffodils, as it does in the Willamette Valley.
Here is a photo of my house taken last week:
Other signs of spring - and this is the one that had me convinced - April first I saw a pair of not-ravens on my way to school. I was tentative in my jubilation of the little brown bird sighting, it being April Fool's Day and all, but I saw four of them later in the day. Four days later the flock had grown to eight birds! Tra la! I haven't seen a not-raven in at least 5 months! Yesterday, I ventured onto the tundra and spotted my first ever McKay's Bunting. The migrators are returning! Sorry about all the exclamation points, but despite thoroughly enjoying the winter here, I am also splendidly enchanted by the idea of spring!
I don't want to mislead you, however, into thinking everything is coming up daffodils, as it does in the Willamette Valley.
Here is a photo of my house taken last week:
A little snowy, perhaps, to be so excited about spring?
Just look below to see a photo of my house the first week of March. The blowing snow filled my stairs and porch most days while I was at school. I eventually stopped trying to clear it and just hiked over the hill to get inside.
Just look below to see a photo of my house the first week of March. The blowing snow filled my stairs and porch most days while I was at school. I eventually stopped trying to clear it and just hiked over the hill to get inside.
You may now play the how-many-differences-can-you-find-in-the-two-pictures game.
The snow sliding off the roof scared me a little last weekend as it made surprisingly loud noises. I was happy to figure out the reason. I don't know - but to me the spring photo just looks springier, doesn't it?
Another sign of spring (we take them where we find them) are patches of asphalt showing up beneath the previously inches-thick ice on the roads! Very exciting, considering the day it melted we had a high temperature of 3. I took this after attending a movie at the Heritage Center so maybe 8:30 p.m. or so. Note how high the sun is. That, my friends, is a big sign of spring.
The snow sliding off the roof scared me a little last weekend as it made surprisingly loud noises. I was happy to figure out the reason. I don't know - but to me the spring photo just looks springier, doesn't it?
Another sign of spring (we take them where we find them) are patches of asphalt showing up beneath the previously inches-thick ice on the roads! Very exciting, considering the day it melted we had a high temperature of 3. I took this after attending a movie at the Heritage Center so maybe 8:30 p.m. or so. Note how high the sun is. That, my friends, is a big sign of spring.
We survived state tests. They were actually sort of a bonding experience. One of my students finally wrote, "Ms. Cottam's first period class is the best!" the final day of testing, a note which usually appears on my board by December. The students have suddenly become almost eighth graders. I think back to those little kids who presented themselves last August and I am amazed.
We have only 28 school days left, and I am happy to report that I have accepted a contract for another year at Kotzebue Middle High School, home of the Fighting Huskies!
We have only 28 school days left, and I am happy to report that I have accepted a contract for another year at Kotzebue Middle High School, home of the Fighting Huskies!